Sparking device for internal-combustin engines.



O. 0. SIORLE.

SPARKING DEVICE FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES.

APPLICATION FILED 0 56.22. 1916.

IPatenIedI Ian. M, IIIISI.

m kw? II I 1 SE E m Iv SPAEKTNG DEVICE FOR INTERNAL-GOMIBUSTTON ENGINES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented aaa Ml, iota.

Application filed December 22, 1916. Serial No. 138,520.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, OLE 0. STORLE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Tacoma, in the county of Pierce and State of Washington, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sparking Devices for internal-Combustion Engines, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, forming a part thereof.

This invention relates to sparking apparatus of the make and break type.

The main objects of the invention are to insure the production of an efiective spark at the proper point'in the stroke of the pis-' ten for the ignition of the charge; to provide for self-cleaning of the contacts; to insure a gas tight joint between the contact piece or member attached to the cylinder and the circuit connection therewith, by the elimination of a movable or loose bearing; to provide for the repetition of the spark 'on each firing stroke of the piston, to insure ignition or for varying the time of the spark with relation to the stroke of the piston; and generally to improve the construction and operation of devices of this class.

The accompanying drawing shows a make and break sparking device embodying the invention as applied to the cylinder and piston of an internal combustion engine, a portion of the cylinder being shown in axial section.

The device comprises a spring contact arm or member a, which may be conveniently made of cast iron, and is formed or provided at one end with a laterally projecting nose and at the other end with a screwthreaded shank b, which is fitted and secured by a nut 0 in an aperture of a recessed cap 02', threaded or otherwise removably attached to the head of the cylinder 6. The shank of the contact arm is suitably insulated from the cap d, and forms a gas-tight joint therewith, which is not liable to become loose or leaky, as the shank does not revolve or otherwise move in said cap, but is normally fixed therein so that it is not subjected to wear. The other contact piece or member of the sparking device, consisting of one 'or more disks 7'' and 9, two being shown in the present case, is formed or provided with a stem h,

which is threaded and adjustable arrially in a lug or boss a on the piston j, and is secured in adjusted position by a lock nut lb, or it may be adjustably mounted on and secured to the piston in any other suitable manner.

The laterally projecting free end or nose of the spring contact arm a, or the periphery of each of the contact disks 7" and g, are either or both beveled or rounded, so that the disk or disks in passing the nose or end of the spring contact arm, will insure an eflective contact and keep the contact faces clean.

To avoid wear of the contact disk or disks unevenly and to bring difii'erent parts of their peripheries into service, the stem k may be turned more or less and set in a new position in the boss 71, or the same result may be attained by angular adjustment of the shank b in the cap 03.

The insulated shank of the spring contact arm a is connected, as shown diagrammatically in the drawing, with one terminal of an electric circuit, including a battery Z or other source of electricity, and timing mechanism m, of the usual or any suitable construction, the other terminal of the circuit being connected with the cylinder or frame of the engine.

In the operation of the device, when either of the disks f or 9 passes the nose or free end of the spring contact arm a on the tiring stroke of the piston, the circuit being closed by the timing mechanism at the time of engagement of said disk with the contact arm, a strong spark or series of sparks is produced at the instant contact between the disk and arm is broken.

The timing mechanism may be so made and adjusted that a spark will be produced by the engagement and disengagement of either or both disks with the contact arm.

By the employment of a number ofcontact disks in connection with the usual timing mechanism, the spark may be advanced and retarded more or less, for starting and for normal running.

When two or more disks are used and the timing mechanism is constructed and adjusted for varying the time of the spark, the disk 9 nearest the piston, is set or adjusted to produce a spark on or near the dead center of the crank at the beginning of the firing stroke of the piston for starting, and the other disk is set or adjusted to produce an earlier spar c, according to the adjustment of the timing mechanism, for normal running.

lllltlt Various modifications in details of construction and arrangement of parts may be' menses tact member comprising a plurality of spaced disks attached to and movable with the piston, and a latei'all yielding spring contact arm attached to t e cylinder in the path of said disks, which coperato there- With to produce a spark according to the adjustment of the timing mechanism.

In witness whereof I hereunto aflix my signature.

OLE 0, STORLE. 

